BARCELONA, Busquets: "This has only just begun"

For Sergio Busquets, the fact that FC Barcelona has already won in Pamplona and Getafe, two of the games the team lost last season, is a good sign. However, he stressed today that, “Every league is different and there’s a long way to go”. As for the eight-point lead over Real Madrid, he insisted that it lessen the pressure on the players. “We play each match with the idea of winning without looking at what the rest are doing”.

Squad focussed

Busquets, who declined to comment on Mourinho’s remarks after Real Madrid lost to Sevilla, explained that the Barça squad are fully focussed on the job in hand. “We’re looking to ourselves. There’s a long way to go in the league. We go out to win every match and that’s all. I’m not in Mourinho’s shoe. The gap is surprising, but this has only just begun. Now we’re focussed on having a good match in the Champions League”.

Sergio Busquets has just celebrated his fourth anniversary as a Barça first team player: “Everything’s gone by so quickly and the truth is I never imagined I’d win so many titles. I’m very happy. My role has been important, I’ve played a lot, and I would never have imagined it. I hope I’ll have many more years with Barça and win many more titles”,

Finally, Busquets explained that Tito Vilanova is asking him to do "more or less the same" as the previous manager, Josep Guardiola: "It always depends, above all, on the playing system of each opponent”. He also spoke about Thiago: "He’s a very important player and we’ve missed him. It’s obvious that he brings a lot to the team and that’s he’s got power and quality. He’s very young and he’ll be very important”.

Purchased by AS Monaco from FC Seville in summer 2013, on a 20 million euros payment, French central midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia (22) might now leave for the same price before next September. An item of interest for Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as for Everton, the pla